Spring Training Baseball - March 9-14, 2017

With a "Land Yacht" now at my disposal, adventures away from the water are more easily accessible.  The first CaptMurph land adventure was shared with Harry from Annapolis.  Although he's an accomplished sailor, Harry is also a rabid baseball fan.  We've shared a number of baseball games together over the years including trips to Pittsburgh and Boston.

Pittsburgh, May 22, 2014

Boston, September 9, 2014

Now based in Florida, it only made sense that we should begin our baseball season early with a round of Spring Training games.

March 9, 2017 - Karen joined us for the first game just a few hours after Harry's plane landed in Orlando.

Karen, Harry at Champion Stadium, NYY vs ATL

Harry let the world know what we were doing  .  .  .

Atlanta Saxophone Quartet by Harry Jones

Harry and I set up the RV in a pretty little site
across the river from Bradenton, FL in Palmetto, FL.

March 10, 2017, before the Pirates' ball game

The Bradenton Police all wear
Pittsburgh Pirates ball caps!

March 10th was the second day of our Spring Training extravaganza. The next five days were all Pirates' or Orioles' games, so it felt like we had some "skin" on these games, unlike the NYY vs ATL.  The kickoff for these "important" games began at the former McKechnie Field, now LECOM Park, Spring Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Harry & Murph at Lecom Park.

We met briefly with Carl, a sailing buddy who has one of the best retirement jobs . . . 

he is a professional cameraman (video and stills) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Carl is using his video camera in the center of this photo

Of course the game was a great experience regardless of the outcome . . . AND the PIRATES WIN!  

Harry's facebook post says it all:

Dinner was at the Bridge Tender Inn, Bradenton Beach, on the ICW.

View from our al fresco table

The sign at the head is correct:  "Women are Always RIGHT!"

March 11 - Today was Pirates vs Orioles, the BIG GAME!

Harry & I resemble this poster!   :-)

Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota was the venue for this game and it proved to be a terrific game with both clubs in it until the O's wrapped it up with a walk-off home run!  Two games in a row ended the same way!

Harry truly enjoyed his team's BIG WIN!

Josef and Murph before the hockey
game.  by Harry Jones

Frank, Harry, Joseph and Murph at Amalie Area

There were numerous fights as the Bolts and Panthers are fierce rivals.

The home team won as the TB Lightning beat the Florida Panthers, 3 to 2.

March 12 - Back to baseball!  Harry and I returned to Bradenton and LECOM Park to watch the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins, 4 to 3.

Pirates Score!

During our walk in downtown Bradenton before dinner, we saw these fish off the pier

March 13 - We followed the Twins to Ed Smith Stadium and the Orioles for our 5th baseball game in as many days.  The O's were successful, beating the Twins handily, 8 to 6.

The teams warm up in Ed Smith Stadium

Harry got this great pic of his O's banners at Ed Smith Stadium.  As a Pirates fan, I couldn't help but notice the AL Champs banner for 1979.  We all know the Pirates won the World Series in 1979, defeating the Baltimore Orioles!

O's Banners on Display at Ed Smith Stadium

March 14 - Our last day of Spring Training Baseball was celebrated at Ed Smith Stadium again, however, this time the O's succumbed to the Tampa Bay Rays, 6 - 9 in a sunny slugfest.  Great fun to watch, even though the Birds came up short.

Harry enjoying sun, beer and baseball

We got another fan to catch a final photo of our enjoyment of Spring baseball while our friends up north were digging out from the blizzard of 2017!

Our final appearance at Ed Smith Stadium!

New-to-me Land AND Water Yachts replace Kelly IV - March 1, 2017

To expand my cruising grounds, a motor home and trailerable sailboat have now replaced my Endeavour 32, Kelly IV.

The end of October brought the Thor 23 Majestic RV aboard and in late February a 1996 Catalina was added.

The total rig extends over 50 feet in length when you include the trailer tongue and boat overhang aft beyond the trailer.

For details about the motor home, Click Here.

The Catalina 250 is now named Irish Rover, reflecting my Irish heritage and love of Ireland, her people and most things Irish.  Rover recalls the plans I have for trailering the boat to a variety of wonderful venues for many new sailing adventures.

There was a lot of work done to convert Irish Rover from a daysailer to a small cruising sailboat I can safely trailer multiple thousands of miles.

I installed a rear camera on the boat's aft rail so I can see behind the boat and trailer while driving and maneuvering on the roads.  In addition, the trailer needed new brakes, rebuilt bunks & guide boards, new ball hitch, new wiring and a full inspection of the bearings to confirm it is ready for a long summer trip.

As the mast must be stepped at every sailing venue, I confirmed that two people can raise and lower the mast unaided.  Two support spars were added to better stabilize the mast and keep it from swaying in the breeze until fully upright.  A mast support that fits the tabernacle was built for use while trailering.

Irish Rover, ready to splash

To make Irish Rover more amenable for living aboard and cruising (even for just a few nights at a time) we:
- Made the water tank easier to fill by adding a siphon pump
- Added a 300W Inverter
- Installed Bimini that can be lowered when trailering
- Installed 12v fans in the V-berth
- Replaced the broken compass
- Corrected a jam cleat improperly located on the rudder
- Mounted the whisker pole on the lifelines for travel on both the highway and water
- Adjusted & marked the wheel center line
- Added a bolt for the emergency tiller
- Provided wing nuts, bolts and lock washers for mast base
- LEDs replaced old lamps for the anchor, steaming, bow and stern lights
- Installed GPS/chartplotter in cockpit
- Added solar panels & MPPT controllers
- Added a second house battery (3 batteries, total)
- Enabled recharging of batteries from engine
- Added new breaker panel with two 12v outlets
- Added 2nd electric cooler/freezer
- Repaired the aft berth steering access
- New, inflatable dinghy and new Torqeedo battery for motor

Gear and features already installed when I bought Irish Rover:
- Water ballast so trailer load is lighter
- 9.9 Honda four-stroke outboard engine
- Wheel steering
- Autopilot
- Main, jib and drifter sails

- Battery monitor
- Electric cooler (NOT a freezer)
- Propane grill
- Butane cooker
- Boat cover